The Dunedin Tap Dancing Society aims to get its competitors in tip-top form while boosting the dance style’s popularity.
The top tap dancers in the city took to the stage for the society’s competitions at Coronation Hall in Mosgiel at the weekend.
Society president Denise Henderson said the competitions were an opportunity for the dancers to fine-tune their routines in preparation for the Performing Arts Competitions Association of New Zealand (PACANZ) National Young Performer Awards in October this year.
"I think it’s really important to get stage time, to get the work on stage and practise at a high-intensity level with your costume in a big space in front of an adjudicator.
"The harder the work [dance routine], the more experience they need fixing it."
This year, eight soloists, a team of 18 dancers from the Denise Henderson Studio and one soloist from the Dunedin Dance Academy have been selected to compete at the national competition.
Ms Henderson said she had attended national competitions since 1989 and Dunedin always had a strong contingent of soloists.
"We’re really bucking the trend.
"The North Island is really struggling to keep tap dancing alive. They’re getting swallowed up by jazz and hip-hop.
"Whereas Dunedin is extremely strong in terms of tap dancing."
Dunedin and Auckland were the two strongholds for tap dance in New Zealand, she said.
"Those are going to be the two centres that battle it out at nationals and we’re really hopeful for some of our top dancers to really represent us well."
The reason for Dunedin’s success in the national tap dancing scene was strong teachers and committed families, Ms Henderson said.
Families, teachers and students dedicated a lot of time and effort to the pursuit, she said.
"It’s an amazing community."
Results were.—
Championships first placegetters: Senior: Immy Morrey, 17; intermediate: Stasa Tucker, 14; junior Charlotte Hamilton-Smith, 11; juvenile Isabelle Geary, 8.
Judges’ choice: Immey Morrey (Latin dance).
Achievers Championship: 12 and over: Jamie Hanagan, 12; under-12: Eden Bezett, 9.
